The Political Economy of Livelihoods in Contemporary Zimbabwe

Since the introduction of the fast track land reform programme in 2000, Zimbabwe has undergone major economic and political shifts and these have had a profound impact on both urban and rural livelihoods. This book provides rich empirical studies that examine a range of multi-faceted and contested livelihoods within the context of systemic crises. Taking a broad political economy approach, the chapters advance a grounded and in-depth understanding of emerging and shifting livelihood processes, strategies and resilience that foregrounds agency at household level.

Highlighting an emergent scholarship amongst young black scholars in Zimbabwe, and providing an understanding of how people and communities respond to socio-economic challenges, this book is an important read for scholars of African political economy, southern African studies and livelihoods.

Kirk Helliker is Director of the Unit of Zimbabwean Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa.

Manase Kudzai Chiweshe is a Senior Lecturer at Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe.

Sandra Bhatasara is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.